The big debate , ! Nervous!
#1
Spike
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Sparta , MI
Posts: 20
The big debate , ! Nervous!
NEW GUY HERE, THE WIFE AND I ARE GETTING ARE WYOMING ANTELOPE HUNT STUFF TOGETHER. NOW WE HAVE 2 OPTIONS #1 FULL OUTFITTED HUNT. or OPTION # 2 SEMI GUIDED PRIVATE LAND . #2 WOULD SAVE MONEY BUT I DONT WANT TO RUIN A HUNT. THIS IS OUR FIRST OUT WEST HUNT, . WE ARE NOT IDIOTS WE HAVE ALL OUR GEAR, BIPODS, RANGE FINDER, ECT; WE PRACTICE WITH OUR RIFLE ALOT, SO WHAT TO DO ??? HELP ME OUT HERE IT'S DRIVING ME CRAZY.......! WHAT SHOULD WE DO.
#2
I would go for the private land, in a good area. Antelope hunts seem to be pretty high success rate. Not speaking from experience here, just what I've read. But if your a competent hunter, in a good area. You'll get lopes
-Jake
-Jake
#4
Fork Horn
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 468
Look online for rancher who allow walk in access for a fee or knock on some doors while your out here. I don't hunt antelope myself but I see a lot of them while hunting rabbits, cyotes and prarie dogs. Most of the ranches I hunt in colorado for varmits the owner will usually let you hunt antelope but not deer.
#5
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: west central wi USA
Posts: 2,242
My buddy and I did the same thing a few years ago in South Dakota. I'd say don't spent money on a fully outfitted hunt. We knew nothing about antelope. Got hooked up with a rancher. He just showed us where the antelope were. If you can find water, the antelope will be somewhere near there. We had 3 tags filled by 4:00 on day one. Quit hunting to cut up and bone out goats. It was 85 degreees. We had all the tags filled by 9:00 on day 2. Have lots of ice and big coolers.
#6
If there was ever a hunt that a guide was not needed for it's an antelope hunt!
honestly if you find public land you'll have 100% shot opportunity, maybe not 100% on a monster antelope buck.
Study what antelope look like! try to look at 70-80" bucks, if you're looking for a trophy at least. the difference between 70 and 80 isn't much at all! and 80 and 85 even less!
They're hard to judge!
Honestly the best benefit to a guide would probably be to help you judge the size of a buck.
if you're going to be on private land, esp a large amount of private land, btw land doesn't go far out west, 1 sq mi 640acres is a drop in the bucket...fyi.
if a guide will calm some nerves etc... it might be worth it, but paying probably 1000-3000 for a guided antelope hunt certainly isn't required.
honestly if you're not going to do a guided hunt, private land isn't required either.
honestly if you find public land you'll have 100% shot opportunity, maybe not 100% on a monster antelope buck.
Study what antelope look like! try to look at 70-80" bucks, if you're looking for a trophy at least. the difference between 70 and 80 isn't much at all! and 80 and 85 even less!
They're hard to judge!
Honestly the best benefit to a guide would probably be to help you judge the size of a buck.
if you're going to be on private land, esp a large amount of private land, btw land doesn't go far out west, 1 sq mi 640acres is a drop in the bucket...fyi.
if a guide will calm some nerves etc... it might be worth it, but paying probably 1000-3000 for a guided antelope hunt certainly isn't required.
honestly if you're not going to do a guided hunt, private land isn't required either.
#7
Spike
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Idaho Falls, ID
Posts: 81
The success rate on many antelope hunts hovers around 100%. If you have a few days to invest and can shoot well you should both tag out with nice bucks on the private land hunt. It is a lot of fun. Read everything you can about how to judge them. Mike Eastman's book Hunting Trophy Antelope is a good investment. Take lots of pics!
#9
I'm pretty much in the same boat. Have never hunted out west but would like to. Me and a friend started buying points in Wyoming this year. I recently subscribed to Eastman's magazine, which also gives you access to their website. Lots of good state-specific and management area-specific info there.